Shami, Saha ruled out of Chennai Test

Already sitting out the fourth cricket Test against England due to injury, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami and wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha are set to miss the fifth and final match of the series as well.

Shami picked up a niggle in his right leg during the first Test at Rajkot and has struggled with it throughout the series. He appeared in the first three Tests, but was forced to miss the ongoing match at the Wankhede Stadium here.

Saha suffered an injury to his hamstring tendon during the second Test in Visakhapatnam, and is undergoing rehabilitation.

In his absence, Parthiv Patel returned to the national team after a gap of several years during the third Test in Mohali and impressed with his batting.

"BCCI medical team confirms that Indian pacer Mohammed Shami and wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha are ruled out of the fifth Test starting on December 16 against England in Chennai," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement on Sunday.

"Shami has soreness in his right knee and has been advised rest and rehabilitation. He will be going to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru to start his recovery programme.

"Saha who suffered a hamstring tendon injury in the second Test of the ongoing series against England at Vizag, is undergoing rehabilitation programme at the NCA," the statement added.

--IANS

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